Wire-fencing-stretching device.



PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

w. M. OWEN. I WIRE FENCING STRETOHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28.1907.

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PATBNTED NOV. 19, 1907.

w. M. OWEN. WIRE FENCING STRETGHING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 28,1907,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. OWEN, OF BESSEMER, ALABAMA.

WIRE-FENCING-STRETCHING DEVICE.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLIAM M. OWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bessemer, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in VVire-Fencing-Stretching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wire fencing stretching device, the object of the invention being to provide an article of this character which is simple in construction, strong, and which can be readily and easily manipulated during the formation of a wire fence.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification l have shown in detail one advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, which, to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same, will be set forth in detail in the following description, while the novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description. I Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation showing a fence in course of construction, and a stretching device and cooperating parts mounted in operative positions. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said stretching device and certain cooperating parts, the post in said Fig. 2 being in cross section. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the principal elements 0 the stretching device. like view of the other principal element there of. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation of said stretching device.

The figures, as will be clear, are on different scales, and in these several figures, like characters refer to like parts throughout the same.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown a fence in course of construction, and there are represented three posts which, although the same, I shall for convenience of description denote by different characters, namely, 2, 3, and 4. The fabric to be attached to these posts is designated by 5, and, as a matter of fact, such fabric is shown as having been stretched against the post 2, the stretching device denoted in a general way by 6 being carried by the post 3.

The stretching device 6 is shown as having a lower member 7 which during the stretch ing 0 eration is stationary and which is of annu ar skeleton form and has a spindle or post as 8 rising therefrom. What is in the present case the upper member of said fenc- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28. 1907. Serial No. 376.176-

Fig. 4 is a Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

ing device is shown also as consisting of an annular part 9 provided with an upwardlyextending hub turnable on the spindle 8, it being understood that the member 9 is superiinposed upon the upper flat surface of the lower member 7. Through the upper end of the. spindle 8 a pin as 10 extends, which serves to prevent the accidental separation of the two members. The upper member may be provided with several sockets as 11 each adapted to receive a bar as 12. In Fig. 2 I have shown such a bar as fitted into one of the sockets, and this bar can be operated to turn the member 9 relative to the companion member 7 for the purpose of taking up slack in the fencing fabric 5 through certain intervening parts hereinafter described.

The lower or stationary member 7 is shown as having peripheral teeth 13. It is not necessary that these teeth extend around the entire periphery of said member 7. Cooperative with the teeth 13 is a suitable detent, and for this purpose a spring-actuated pawl as 14 may be rovided, the pawl being pivotally mounted upon the movable member 9 and its tooth or point being adapted to engage in the glpaces between the teeth 13 to prevent acci ental retractive movement of the member 9. The spring 15 of the pawl 14 normally holds the latter in an operative position. The teeth 13 are so sha ed as to permit free working movement of t 1e member 9 and to also preventbackward movement of said memberwhen advancing motion of the same is stopped during the process of mak ing a fence. When the fabric has been tightened up the tail of the pawl 14 can be pressed in to disengage the point of the pawl from between the teeth 13 to permit the return of the member 9 to its original position.

I prefer to connect the stretching device 6 to a post during the operation of the apparatus, and for this pu ose the stationary member 7 of said stretb liing device may be furnished with some suitable means, as will now appear, for obtaining this result. I have s own as pivotally connected with the member 7 at or near the circumference thereof at circumferentially separated )oints the two arms 16, to one of which a be t as 17 is pivoted, the threaded end of said bolt extending throu h a perforation in the arm and carrying an adjusting or set-nut as 18. The two arms 16 which present collectively a clamping device, are outwardly curved or arched between their ends. In use the arms 16 are separated by running out the nut 18 to permit the same to surround a post as shown for instance in Figs. 1 and 2. After this is done, the nut 18 is set up to clamp the fastening device firmly in place to said post,

it being shown as carried by the post 3 in Fig. 1. .To prevent slippage of the clamping device on the post the working part thereof may be roughened, such as by the provision of several spurs as 19 which bite into the wood, to obtain the result named.

In connection with the stretching device I may employ, a clamping device such as 20. From said clamping device 20 the chain or equivalent connection 28 extends and in practice the chain may be looped around said fabric clamping device. The turnable member 9 of the stretching device is shown as furnished with a peripheral hook 29 which is adapted for engagement by one of the.

links of said chain 28.

It is believed that the operation of the apnecting device may be of any suitable char-' acter; for example, it may consist of a chain terminating in a hook 31. When the requisite amount of tightness of the fabric has been secured this hook 31 can be engaged in a link of the chain 28 as shown in Fig. 2, so that the chain 28 can be disengaged from the hook 29. If this operation be followed out the strain due to the tightening of the fabric is takenfrom the pawl 14. I may, if desired, brace the post 3 by a chain or similar connection as 32 extending between said post 3 and the post 4. The stability of the post 3 may be further increased by the use of a brace or prop 33, one end of which is adapted to en gage the post, and the other end of which is adapted to be thrust into the ground' hat I claim is:

1. A stretching device comprising two companion members, one of which is supported by and is turnable on the other-and one of said members having teeth and the other having a pawl to engage said teeth, a hook carried by oneof said members, a chain provided with a hook, carried by the other of said members, and a clamping device for holding the stretching device in position, said clamping device consisting of two curved jaws piv otally connected to one of the members of the stretching device, and a bolt, said bolt being jointed to one of said jaws and having a threaded portion extending through the other jaw, the threaded portion being provided with a nut eXteriorly of said last mentioned jaw. I v

2. A stretching device comprising ,two superimposed companion members, one of which is turnable with respect to'the other, the lower member having peripheral teeth and also having a chain terminating in a hook, connected therewith and the upper member having a detent to engage said. teeth and also having a plurality of staff or pole receiving sockets on its upper side said upper member also having a peripheral hook.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' WILLIAM M. OWEN. Witnesses:

R. F. SMITH, W. B. LEWIS. 

